About

Yombe peoples

Flywhisk, Early–mid-20th century

On View

Wood, metal and buffalo tail

Dimensions: 17 1/2 × 3 × 2 in. (44.5 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm)

Museum purchase with funds from the Collection Endowment, 2015.67

This flywhisk co-opts the power of colonial invaders by combining the image of Christ, their principal deity, with drums and other musical instruments used to communicate with Yombe ancestors. The kneeling female figure invokes the power of females to procreate and nurture.